Category: culture

Tues. Mar. 5, 2024 – Erect– I mean Election Day… at least for the small fry…

Warm and damp. Clear if the forecast is good, but locally we could get anything. After yesterday’s misty start, it did clear and turn into a pretty nice day. Windows down until later afternoon, then the humidity with the higher temp made A/C welcome…

Did one pickup, although it was three invoices. Got my ventless propane heater for the BOL backup heat. Got a couple of other speculative things too. Sometimes I’ll get something without knowing why at the time, but it usually works out. Has to be cheap and close by.

After getting the kids from school, I went back to poking at my non-prepping hobby website build. I’d spent the morning doing auction stuff and poking at it, and thought I’d poke some more. All I can say is that if you want to do simple things, it can be simple. Still not as easy as the demos. The demo guys are NEVER trying to re-create something existing- I don’t care if it’s a website or a CAD drawing, it’s always easy to just breeze along adding new stuff. Much less easy to keep referring to the old, and trying to incorporate that stuff into the new.

I made progress though, so that was good. I’m hoping I can poke at it enough to have a pretty good “go live” site by Saturday. My non-prepping hobby meets this Saturday and it would be good to put it in front of the board and get sign off on the switchover. It means I’ll be poking more than I’d like during the next few days.

Took some time off to watch Red Dawn with the kids last night. It held up pretty well. I’ve got a list of formative movies and books, and they are receptive to it. Just have to make the time.

Culture. It’s important. They are a bit surprised by movies from before PC and the diversite’. They can name 3 female scientists, but can they name three male? Yeah, that is just one of my issues with school… and it crops up in the strangest places. So, pop culture from the before time as a balance.

Might work. I like watching the movies anyway.

Stack some together time. And ammo.

Wolverines!

nick

(“it’s fried rice you plick!”)

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Mon. Mar. 4, 2024 – let’s get started with a new month and new week! Yea!

Could rain. Could be nice. Openweathermap.org says moderate rain, light breeze, high of 80F. The national forecast has us on the edge of a “possible’ rain zone. The Gulf will undoubtedly have its own ideas about what will happen. Either way, I’ll deal with it. Nothing critical to do outside today. Yesterday was overcast, low clouds, and it never rained.

And it didn’t matter much to me, because after returning my stuff and the trailer, I ate some meds and went back to bed. Woke in the evening feeling much better. So the day was a loss as far as work getting done.

Today should have me getting a few things done. I’ve got a couple of packages to mail, some website work to do, auction stuff, and all the normal list. I’m hoping the relief I got by taking yesterday off continues through today. It’s a lot easier to do stuff if you aren’t really sore.

Antibiotics and pain meds- the marvels of the modern age. Do what you can to make sure you still have access to them… legally of course.

And then stack them. Because no one is coming to help you, unless you’ve arranged it yourself.

nick

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Sun. Mar. 3, 2024 – a day of rest? Not likely…

Cool and overcast but hopefully not wet. Yesterday was supposed to be sunny and clear, but turned out to be overcast and cool in Ft. Bend county anyway. Which was nice. I still managed to get some sun color as I was in it for 11 hours… nothing like if it was sunny though.

Had a successful hamfest swapmeet. Grossed about the same as last year, but sold completely different stuff. Got rid of a few flip top bins. Everyone seemed pretty happy with pricing and several guys came back more than once. I had a good day.

D1 had a bad day. She woke up puking and ran a fever all day. Missed her “color run”. She’s feeling better today, but I haven’t checked her fever yet. I thought it might be food poisoning since none of the rest of us are sick, but the fever suggests otherwise. Hopefully it will resolve today.

W and D2 should be home in the early afternoon. It will be good to have the pack together.

Today I still have to return the trailer and put some unsold items back in storage. That needs to happen in the late morning. I’d rather sleep, but needs must…

Then it will be on to the list of stuff…

Like always.

Still, turned some stuff into money that will be better spent on different stacks. Take a look at your situation, and if you are thinking about selling stuff, do it. People are definitely running out of money.

Stack while you can.

nick

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Sat. Mar. 2, 2024 – at the Greater Houston Hamfest today…

Weather should be sunny and clear with a high of 80F. I’m hoping so, but with some breeze to keep it cooler. I did throw a popup canopy in the truck, but dunno if I’ll have time to set it up. I usually don’t.

Did all my running around and dropping off yesterday. Loaded a small trailer and the truck. Truck is a bit less loaded than past years. And as I’m writing this, I’m remembering something I didn’t load. I’ll get it first thing in the morning.

The Hamfest is a good time, and I never even get inside. If there is one in your area, I definitely encourage you to check it out. And if you are in Houston, or technically Rosenburg, see if you can find me in the parking lot swap meet.

It’s pretty unlikely I’ll check the site or update until I’m home, so y’all behave!

Today I’m stacking money and real life connections. Give it a try!

nick

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Fri. Mar. 1, 2024 – I have a birthday this month, among other things…

Cool, damp or even wet, and windy today. We did get a bit of rain late in the day yesterday, but it really depended on where you were in town. I got some at the secondary, but not at home.

I was still sore, and stiff, and it’s surprisingly hard to be productive under those conditions. I did get a pickup done, a visit to the chiropractor, and my kid chauffeur duties taken care of. I feel like that was very little, but it was something and got me out of the house. Obviously my plan for the week went to heII early on.

Getting old, 3 of 5 stars, cannot recommend.

It’s been a while since I was this busted up for this long and I don’t like it. No sir, I don’t. I guess I’ll have to start actively fighting the entropy instead of thinking normal life activities are enough. Like I need more to do…

Speaking of which, we’ll see what I get done today, but tomorrow’s hamfest might be less than I had hoped. If I move some of this stuff it’ll be a win, but I’ll still feel like I could have done more. Can’t do everything, and sometimes real life gets in the way of hobbies. And it is a hobby, not life or death.

Speaking of hobbies, I’m fumbling my way around wordpress, and I have more admiration for Rick than ever. F-me, I really don’t like feeling this new and out of my depth. Meatspace. Obligations. Volunteering for my fellow enthusiasts. Joy. I thank a merciful deity that Rick is here to do the ‘under the hood’ stuff. Yapping is easy. Keeping the lights on is harder. Thank you Rick. And also thanks to Barbara, who continues to see value in it.

I’m out in the world today and tomorrow, and doing battle on more than one front. Both of which are HOBBIES. Need to remind myself of that. Valuable nonetheless, but still secondary to family and self.

Stretch out some mental or actual muscles. You might regret it, but you will learn some things.

(and stack, the world isn’t getting any less crazy.)

nick

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Thur. Feb. 29, 2024 – whoo hooo!!! Extra day!! Get to work!

Cold and windy, and damp. Temp started to drop yesterday afternoon, and it was pretty chilly by nightfall. Windy all day too. I’m expecting today to be the same, without the warmer middle.

I got a couple of things done yesterday. One pickup. Kid stuff. Tried not to re-tweak my back. Visited the chiropractor and got some relief. Taking the day off really helped. IDK if I’m going to be able to do all the physical stuff I need to do to get ready for the hamfest though.

I’ve got dozens of bins to move, load, and rearrange, as well as having to move a bunch of stuff first so I can clear a path. I’m debating just taking what I can fit on the truck, mostly higher dollar stuff and the stuff I specifically picked up this past year. People seem to like digging through the bins and boxes though, and I’ve got stuff that is traditional “hamfest” stuff, like boxes of parts and projects. That kind of stuff usually gets a good reaction and I sell a ton of smalls… I was kinda hoping the weather forecast would be dismal, but it is currently showing sunny on the day. That isn’t going to help me make my decision.

I’ve got all the slippage from the last two days to get through today, and I’m not making good progress. Might be time for some quitter talk, and realignment of my goals. I’m still not even back to 50% pain and movement wise… and I really don’t want to mess up the progress I’ve made so far. I hate not feeling strong and capable.

I also hate making excuses though.

I guess I’ll play it by ear, and see how much I can do to get ready.

The rest of you can still stack though!

nick

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Wed. Feb. 28, 2024 – Hoping to feel better today, as the list gets longer…

Warm and moist. Bit of chill to the wind but still warm overall. Mainly because that was yesterday. It got even a bit warmer than strictly comfortable by late afternoon, but cooled at night. Spring is sprung. The redbud trees are blooming, as is my lime.

I didn’t get much done yesterday. My freaking back was killing me. Stretching out as I squatted over the mower deck, and lifting heavy things really did a number on me. Every so often, I exceed what I can effectively manage by myself and need to get some chiropractic help. And sometimes some chemical help besides. Which is one reason I didn’t get much done, I called it quits after just a few tentative hours moving around.

I did get one pickup- some security window film, and did my auctioneer drop off of several bins of sale items. That was it though.

Today, I’m hoping I feel better. I’ll hit the chiropractor again, then see about collecting some of the stuff for the hamfest. Two pickups to do too. If I am feeling better, I don’t want to overdo it and move backward. Too much to do in the next couple of days, and too much of it is physical.

There is always more to do than there is time lately. I might have to make some better choices with my time, or figure out how to make better use of the time I currently spend waiting for kids…

It’s a work in progress.

Keep working to improve your situation. And stack.

nick

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Tues. Feb. 27, 2024 – crazy busy week, and I’m slacking off…

Warm and moist. Part sun. Part cloud. Or maybe something different, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Yesterday was a mixed bag, weatherwise,but it did get nice in the late afternoon and evening. Nice sunset. A bit too humid all day, but it is Houston after all.

I didn’t get much of my list done yesterday. My back was really hurting, far more than usual, and didn’t respond to my normal tricks. I even went back to bed for an hour. I clearly overexerted myself at the BOL and triggered something. I did get one pickup done, that had to be done Monday. It was items for the BOL. I got some other small things done around the house too, but that doesn’t give me much of a feeling of accomplishment.

This week I have to do something to advance my hobby club website. I might just set up the hosting account, with a ‘work in progress’ page, and get the domain transfer going. I really don’t want to re-up with the existing host, even for one more month. Although if that’s an option it would take the pressure off. My main focus for the rest of the week should be getting stuff together for the hamfest. I also need to do my afternoon kid wrangling, normal pickups (although I’m buying a lot less stuff, and it’s more focused) and drop off stuff with my auctioneer. I don’t have anything in this week’s auction, so something glitched. I thought I had stuff at his place waiting for listing.

And I’m certain that the normal sort of unexpected stuff will pop up. So I’m expecting the unexpected. As long as it’s not the Spanish Inquisition…

Oh, and I’ve got to do early voting too, in our local races, because I’m not available on the actual day.

Still, busy is better than bored, right? Right?

Get out in the world. Learn a new skill or get some training. Upgrade your ham license or try a new mode. Plan and plant your garden. Time is FLYING by.

Stack.

nick

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Mon. Feb. 26, 2024 – yes, we have no bananas, we have no bananas today…

Cool and damp in Houston, with clouds and overcast… my best guess for conditions 6 hours from when I’m writing this. Based on current conditions anyway. We’ll see how the day progresses.

It was certainly nice at the BOL, even with the howling wind. It was warm enough that the wind felt nice rather than raw.

I got most of my list for the weekend done. Stuff got transported to the BOL, I did the things I hoped to do. Got seeds in the ground, which is more than I’ve done here at home, or in my own patch up there. It’s that time for us, soon it’ll be too late for some things. Check with your local ag extension service, and get some gardening happening. The learning curve is steep. Start climbing it.

And if you have a black thumb like me, instead of a green one, stack more food!

Today I’ve got auction stuff, drop offs and maybe pickups. I’ve got to finish the tub repair too. And any other thing that pops up. It’s sure to be a normal day, which will provide all the challenges I need… PLUS now I’m counting down to the Hamfest. I’ll be making lists, digging in bins, looking in the garage, patio, attic, storage units, and secondary location to find the stuff I put aside for the swapmeet and then forgot about, and I swear, I WILL do some price research this time, at least for the test gear and some of the radios… and reserve a trailer. I just realized it will be the first weekend of the month, and trailer rentals might be scarce.

There is always something more to do. Just gotta do it. Get to stacking. And doing whatever it is YOU need to do.

nick

Louis Prima

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Sun. Feb. 25th, 2024 – still got plenty to do…

Cool but not cold, but probably pretty damp, and warming later. Yesterday was about as perfect a day as it gets, weather-wise.

And we now have seeds in the soil. Beans, radishes, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and even some strawberries. Next step is irrigation but hopefully we’ve got some time before the heat of summer kicks in. One year I was wearing my cool vest at the rodeo, so it’s possible it could skip Spring and jump right to ” hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck feeling hot and gritty…”

Plan for the day is mower maintenance, weed mowing (with a bit of grass cutting too), clean up and put away, and then at some point head home. Oh, and pack up most of my pex fittings and tools. Because I feel like I’m gonna need them at home. Which would be unfortunate. Still, better to be prepared, no?

Moved a couple of things up here this trip. Stacking it deeper. Please consider following my example…

nick

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